Page 40 of What Started In Deception

“Great.” He ate another couple of bites in the silence as she did, wanting them to get back to where they’d been just a few minutes ago. “So, what does the rest of your week look like?”

She set down her fork. “I need to run a few errands and cross off some of my summer to-dos before we leave, but otherwise I’m pretty open.”

“Are you up for making plans?”

She nodded. “Sure. What are some things you like to do?”

He thought about it, realizing that mostly, he just worked. “I like to shoot.”

Her frown was back. “As in guns?”

He chuckled. “As in guns.”

“I don’t like guns.”

“Mine could potentially save my life, so I’m pretty fond of it.”

“I take it you’re a good shot.”

He nodded. “It’s a requirement if I want to keep my job. We have to qualify a few times throughout the year.”

“Do you have a gun here?”

He nodded again. “My service weapon. I typically carry it on me. I actually feel a little naked without it, but it’s in the bedroom safe for now.”

“Huh,” she said, as she often did.

He reached over, touching her hand. “What do you say, Lyd? Let’s give it a try. I can teach you the basics.”

She didn’t shy away as he played with her fingers. “Are you going to keep calling me that? Lyd?”

He hadn’t realized he’d started, but he nodded, deciding that he liked it. “I can see it happening again. Is that a problem?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Will you come shooting with me tomorrow?”

She sighed. “Yeah, sure. Why not?”

He smiled. “How would you feel about us grabbing another picture since we’re finished with our dinner?”

She stood as he did. “Let’s do it.”

He snagged his phone off the table. “Maybe we can get one with a view of downtown behind us. The sunset’s gorgeous.”

“I think we have to because I agree.”

They walked over to the railing.

He held up the phone.

She surprised him when she locked her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Smile,” he said as he hooked his arm around her, taking the photo, then studied the screen as she did. It was hard to deny that they looked excellent together. “This one’s definitely our best.”

She nodded as she let him go. “I figured we needed to change up our poses a little. We can’t have all of our pictures looking the same.”

“Yeah,” he said, still staring at the couple in the shot as he breathed Lydia in. “Good thought.”